Blog

Read interviews with publishers, authors and illustrators, find out what IBBY UK members have been up to in our blog or read our reports on IBBY UK activities.

Fatima Sharafeddine: Lebanese writer and HCAA nominee<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

Fatima Sharafeddine: Lebanese writer and HCAA nominee

Coming from a place of conflict, Fatima Sharafeddine responds to the dark side of the world with her creativity entwined with kindness and empathy, conveying her message with simple yet impactful stories
Xiong Liang: Chinese Illustrator<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

Xiong Liang: Chinese Illustrator

Through themes of traditional folklore and nature as well as classical freehand ink wash painting, Xiong Liang reinterprets and deconstructs traditional Chinese themes from modern perspectives.
Slowing Down to Find Magic in Viewing: The Poetics of Kestutis Kasparavicius’ Illustrations<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

Slowing Down to Find Magic in Viewing: The Poetics of Kestutis Kasparavicius’ Illustrations

Books can read us too, claims Kestutis Kasparavičius, the established Lithuanian illustrator whose creativity has been recognized worldwide.
The Immersive World of Suzy Lee<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

The Immersive World of Suzy Lee

Well-crafted visual narratives are home to resonant and eloquent silences, where the suspension of the verbal allows for unfettered access into pictorial spaces, in Suzy Lee’s picture books.
‘All I can do is keep telling stories’ – The remarkable realities of Marcus Sedgwick<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

‘All I can do is keep telling stories’ – The remarkable realities of Marcus Sedgwick

Marcus Sedgwick challenges young readers by depicting darker realities of human existence and instigating their inquisitiveness regarding art, science, and philosophy.
Linda Wolfsgruber: A Multi-talented Illustrator<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

Linda Wolfsgruber: A Multi-talented Illustrator

When Linda Wolfsgruber creates a book, she invents something truly special, unexpected, and remarkable.
The Versatility of Sylvia Weve<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

The Versatility of Sylvia Weve

Whether with a felt-tip pen, paintbrush, or digital software – or sometimes combining them – Sylvia Weve has been a consistent force in the children’s book world in the Netherlands.
Sinan Hallak’s Illustrations: A School Book’s Endless Metamorphosis<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

Sinan Hallak’s Illustrations: A School Book’s Endless Metamorphosis

Sinan Hallak’s illustrations are child-empowering works that suggest alternative spheres where the child's size, strength and power is far greater than reality.
Elena Odriozola: Crossover illustrator, Latin-American connections<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

Elena Odriozola: Crossover illustrator, Latin-American connections

Elena Odriozola is a crossover illustrator who blurs the boundaries between content for children and adults but also between continents, thanks to her easily recognizable style, with her iconic characters as well as its minimalistic, subtle, and naturalistic essence.
The Work of Annika Thor: Relatable, Entertaining and Brimming with Enthusiasm<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

The Work of Annika Thor: Relatable, Entertaining and Brimming with Enthusiasm

Vibrant, childlike and mischievous! Let’s step into the nonsense and playful imaginary world created by Japanese picturebook master Arai Ryoji.
Arai Ryoji: Seeing the World from Innocent Eyes<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

Arai Ryoji: Seeing the World from Innocent Eyes

Vibrant, childlike and mischievous! Let’s step into the nonsense and playful imaginary world created by Japanese picturebook master Arai Ryoji.
Beatrice Alemagna: HCAA Nominee<img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=92&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/01a824d38dd9d2527324dc73cf95aea3?s=184&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-92 photo' height='92' width='92' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/>

Beatrice Alemagna: HCAA Nominee

Expressiveness and freedom are both attributes present in Beatrice Alemagna’s artistic work.